Monza: Practice report

ENGEL TOPS FREE PRACTICE
The majority of the drivers in the 2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3
International Series got their first taste of the ultra fast circuit at
the Autodroma Nazionale Monza during the 45-minute Free Practice...

ENGEL TOPS FREE PRACTICE

The majority of the drivers in the 2007 Lloyds TSB Insurance British F3
International Series got their first taste of the ultra fast circuit at
the Autodroma Nazionale Monza during the 45-minute Free Practice session
this morning. Maro Engel (#23 Carlin Motorsport) set the fastest time of
the morning with a 1m47.560 lap at the end of the session.

Engel has never raced in a Formula 3 car at the home of the Italian Grand
Prix but he has raced in Euro F3000, so has some experience of the
circuit unlike the driver who was second fastest, Atte Mustonen (#26
Raikkonen Robertson Racing).

The Finn was just 0.035 seconds adrift of Engel and 0.269 seconds ahead
of the third fastest driver Alberto Valerio (#22 Carlin Motorsport).
Championship leader Marko Asmer (#7 Hitech Racing) was fourth fastest and
the last driver to be inside the 2005 British F3 lap record set by that
year's champion Alvaro Parente (1m48.149). Asmer, along with Stephen
Jelley (#1 Raikkonen Robertson Racing) and Jonathan Kennard (#2 Raikkonen
Robertson Racing), took part in the three British F3 races held at Monza
two years ago.

Jelley was fifth, just a head of race winners Sam Bird (#3 Carlin
Motorsport) and Niall Breen (#21 Carlin Motorsport). Sebastian Hohenthal
(#5 Fortec Motorsport) was 8th, ahead of Kennard and his Fortec teammate
Greg Mansell (#50 Fortec Motorsport), who rounded out the top 10.

Albert Costa (#36 Raikkonen Robertson Racing) didn't complete a lap after
his car suffered clutch failure at the start of the session. Salman Al
Khalifa (#77 Promatecme) will not be taking any part in this
weekend's event.

Qualifying for Round 9 is due to start, with the
second 30-minute qualifying session to determine the grid for Round 10.